Kauai for Kids and Families

Choosing a Place to Stay

Resorts: On the North Shore the best bet is the St. Regis Princeville Resort, where kids can spend the day (without their parents) exploring local sea life with a marine biologist. The Kauai Marriott Resort is a good choice on the East Side, and on the South Shore both the Grand Hyatt Kauai and Sheraton Kauai Resort have kids' programs.

Condos: Condo rentals are a fantastic value for families vacationing in Hawaii. On the North Shore, there are numerous condo resort choices in Princeville, including Hanalei Bay Resort with eight tennis courts and two pools. On the South Shore, Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation is a family favorite, with an excellent location that includes a swimmable beach adjacent to a grassy field great for picnics.

Transit Vacation Rentals (TVRs): The new kids on the block are rentals in homelike dwellings that are licensed for such activity. These rentals, and others that are "under the table," have in essence created another resort area along the North Shore—think private home with exclusive beach access. Make sure your renter is operating legally before plunking down your plastic.

Ocean Activities

On the Beach: There are several beaches in Kauai that are nearly as safe as a pool—Anini Beach and Hanalei Bay Beach Park on the North Shore, Lydgate State Park and Kalapaki Beach on the East Side, Poipu Beach Park on the South Shore, and Salt Pond Beach Park on the West Side.

On the Waves: Surf lessons are a great idea for older kids, especially if Mom and Dad want a little quiet time. The Blue Seas Surfing School is best for beginners, and you can book your kids a 1½-hour lesson for $75.

The Underwater World: If your kids are ready to try snorkeling, Kauai is a great place to introduce them to the underwater world. Get your kids used to the basics at Lydgate State Park on the island's East Side, where there's no threat of a current. On its guided snorkel tours, SeaFun Kauai will show kids of all ages how to identify marine life and gives great beginner instruction.

Land Activities

On the North Shore, kids will love Na Aina Kai, a garden with a 16-foot-tall Jack and the Beanstalk bronze sculpture, gecko maze, tree house, kid-size train, and tropical jungle, and on the East Side is Smith's Tropical Paradise, a 30-acre botanical garden.

Horseback riding is a popular family activity, and most of the tours on Kauai move slowly, so no riding experience is required.

ATV tours are the activity of choice when it rains. Try Kauai ATV Tours, which has two-passenger "Mud Bugs" to accommodate families with kids ages five and older.

After Dark

At night, younger kids get a kick out of luau, and many of the shows incorporate young audience members. The older kids might find it all a bit lame, but there are a handful of new shows in the Islands that are more modern, incorporating acrobatics, lively music, and fire dancers. If you're planning on hitting a luau with a teen in tow, we highly recommend going the modern route—try Luau Kalamaku in Lihue. The best luau for young kids on Kauai is Smith's Tropical Paradise, in Wailua. A tram tour takes families through the botanical garden before dinner, and the show starts with some high-tech pyrotechnics.